Symptoms of allergies can manifest in various ways, depending on the type of allergen and the individual's sensitivity. Common allergy symptoms include sneezing, nasal congestion, runny or itchy nose, watery or itchy eyes, coughing, wheezing, skin rashes, hives, swelling, and gastrointestinal discomfort.
Allergies can develop at any age and may be influenced by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Individuals with a family history of allergies are more likely to develop allergies themselves, although specific triggers can vary from person to person.
Environmental factors such as pollution, climate change, and exposure to certain chemicals may also contribute to the prevalence and severity of allergies in some populations.
Typical Ways To Manage Allergy Symptoms And Their Dangers
Management of allergies typically involves a combination of avoidance strategies, medication, and allergen immunotherapy. Avoiding exposure to known allergens whenever possible can help reduce symptoms. Over-the-counter antihistamines, decongestants, nasal corticosteroids, and eye drops can provide relief from mild to moderate allergy symptoms.
In cases of severe or persistent allergies, allergen immunotherapy, also known as allergy shots or sublingual immunotherapy, may be recommended to desensitize the immune system to specific allergens over time.
Allergy medications, like any other type of medication, can have side effects, and the severity and frequency of these side effects can vary depending on the specific medication and individual factors. Some common side effects associated with allergy medications include:
- Drowsiness: Many antihistamines, particularly older, first-generation ones, can cause drowsiness and impair alertness and cognitive function. This side effect is often more pronounced with medications like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and chlorpheniramine.
- Dry Mouth: Antihistamines can also cause dryness in the mouth and throat, which may be bothersome for some individuals.
- Dizziness: Some people may experience dizziness or lightheadedness as a side effect of allergy medications, particularly those that cause drowsiness.
- Blurred Vision: Certain antihistamines can affect vision, causing blurred vision or difficulty focusing.
- Nausea Or Upset Stomach: Some allergy medications, especially when taken on an empty stomach, can cause gastrointestinal discomfort, including nausea or upset stomach.
- Increased Heart Rate: Decongestants, which are often combined with antihistamines in allergy medications, can increase heart rate and blood pressure in some individuals.
- Difficulty Urinating: Antihistamines and decongestants may cause difficulty urinating or exacerbate urinary retention in individuals with certain medical conditions.
- Increased Risk Of Falls: Elderly individuals, in particular, may be at increased risk of falls due to drowsiness, dizziness, and impaired balance caused by some allergy medications.
When considering long-term use of allergy medications, particularly antihistamines and decongestants, it's essential to weigh the potential benefits against the risks of side effects. Prolonged use of some medications may lead to tolerance, meaning that the body becomes less responsive to the medication over time, requiring higher doses for the same effect.
Long-term use of certain allergy medications, particularly first-generation antihistamines and decongestants, may also be associated with other risks, such as dependency, cognitive impairment, and cardiovascular effects.
Are There Natural Alternatives To Treating Allergies?
Natural alternatives to treating allergies may offer relief for some individuals without the potential side effects associated with conventional allergy medications. Here are seven natural approaches that people often consider:
1) Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care primarily focuses on the relationship between the spine and nervous system and how that relationship affects overall health. Individuals have reported improvements in their allergy symptoms with regular chiropractic adjustments.
Here are a few ways chiropractic care may help manage spring allergies:
- Enhancing Nervous System Function: By restoring proper alignment, nerve function can be optimized, which positively influences immune system responses. A well-functioning immune system will be better equipped to handle allergens and reduce the severity of allergy symptoms.
- Reducing Inflammation: Chiropractic adjustments may help reduce inflammation in the body. Allergies often involve an inflammatory response triggered by exposure to allergens. By addressing spinal misalignments and reducing inflammation, chiropractic care may help alleviate some of the inflammation associated with allergic reactions.
- Improving Respiratory Function: Chiropractic adjustments may also improve respiratory function by enhancing chest mobility, reducing muscle tension, and promoting better breathing mechanics. This can potentially alleviate some of the respiratory symptoms commonly associated with allergies, such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
- Supporting Overall Wellness: Chiropractic care is focused on promoting holistic wellness. A healthy lifestyle that includes proper nutrition, regular exercise, and stress management techniques may contribute to overall immune system function and resilience, potentially reducing the frequency and severity of allergy symptoms.
2) Probiotics
Probiotics, found in fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, and kimchi, may help support gut health and modulate the immune system, potentially reducing the severity of allergy symptoms. Some studies suggest that probiotics could have a beneficial effect on allergic conditions like hay fever.
3) Local Honey
Some people believe that consuming locally sourced honey, which contains small amounts of pollen from local plants, may help desensitize the body to allergens and reduce allergy symptoms. However, scientific evidence supporting this claim is limited.
4) Quercetin
Quercetin is a flavonoid found in many fruits, vegetables, and grains, known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Some research suggests that quercetin may help stabilize mast cells and reduce the release of histamines, potentially alleviating allergy symptoms. Foods rich in quercetin include apples, onions, berries, and leafy greens.
5) Nasal Irrigation
Nasal irrigation, using a saline solution to rinse the nasal passages, can help remove allergens and irritants from the nasal cavity, reducing congestion and improving breathing. Neti pots and saline nasal sprays are commonly used for nasal irrigation.
6) Acupuncture
Acupuncture, an ancient Chinese practice involving the insertion of thin needles into specific points on the body, is believed by some to help alleviate allergy symptoms by rebalancing the body's energy flow and modulating the immune response. While research on acupuncture for allergies is limited and results are mixed, some individuals report symptom improvement with regular treatments.
7) Essential Oils
Certain essential oils, such as peppermint, eucalyptus, and lavender, may have decongestant, anti-inflammatory, and antihistamine properties that can help relieve allergy symptoms. Inhalation or topical application of diluted essential oils may provide temporary relief from congestion and inflammation.
Monitto Chiropractic, A Natural Alternative to Managing Your Allergies
We at Monitto Chiropractic aim to educate you as our patient about Chiropractic care and other natural solutions to common health problems such as allergies in order to motivate you to take a more active and responsible role in restoring and maintaining your own health as well as the people around you.
As a chiropractor, we understand that although our patients may be diagnosed with the same condition, they respond very differently to treatments. For this reason, we tailor a specific plan of action to meet your needs, goals & unique medical and physical condition.
Appointments are available seven days per week. Contact us today to help us provide natural alternatives to managing your seasonal allergies.